A saddle tree has a rigid pommel portion and a rigid cantle portion joined by at least one discrete flexible connector whereby the tree is able to flex centrally of the tree.
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1. A saddle tree, comprising:
a substantially rigid cantle portion having an inverted u-shape with depending cantle legs; a substantially rigid pommel portion having an inverted u-shape with depending pommel legs that terminate in free ends, each of said pommel legs including a projecting arm that projects toward the cantle portion; and a discrete flexible connector joining each depending cantle leg to a respective projecting arm of the pommel portion, whereby the tree is able to flex centrally of the tree.
8. A saddle, comprising:
a saddle tree comprising a rigid cantle portion having an inverted u-shape which has depending cantle legs, the saddle tree further comprising a rigid pommel portion having an inverted u-shape which has depending pommel legs that terminate in free ends, said pommel legs each including a projecting arm that projects toward the cantle portion, wherein a discrete flexible connector joins each depending cantle leg to a respective projecting arm of the pommel portion whereby said tree is able to flex; an undersaddle having external pockets that engage said pommel portion; and a seat unit received on said saddle tree.
15. A saddle tree, comprising:
a substantially rigid cantle portion having depending first and second cantle legs on opposite sides thereof; a substantially rigid pommel portion having depending first and second pommel legs that terminate in free ends on opposite sides thereof; a first discrete flexible connector extending between the first cantle leg and the pommel at a location on the pommel which is intermediate a central location on the pommel and the free end of the first pommel leg; and a second discrete flexible connector extending between the second cantle leg and the pommel at a location on the pommel which is intermediate the central location on the pommel and the free end of the second pommel leg, whereby the tree is able to flex centrally of the tree in an essentially vertical direction.
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a first metal reinforcing plate located under the cantle; and a second metal reinforcing plate located under the pommel.
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None.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to a saddle tree and a saddle incorporating a saddle tree.
A saddle for a horse, pony, etc. is typically constructed using a saddle tree, which provides the framework on which a seat unit is mounted and which also provides the main structural strength of the saddle. Conventionally, saddle trees have been made entirely of wood or of wood and metal such as steel or iron.
It has long been known that it is desirable for the saddle tree to be able to flex in order to accommodate movement of the horse, and particularly the horse's spine, during riding. In the past, this has been achieved for example by careful and selective sawing of the wooden saddle tree. However, this is a skill which requires great experience and is difficult to reproduce exactly. It is also possible to damage a saddle tree during sawing. Alternative ways of providing a flexible saddle tree have therefore been sought.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5435116, there is disclosed a saddle tree of synthetic resin. The saddle tree has a seat unit which has a thin central portion where the tree can flex. Side skirts attached to the seat unit are also arranged to flex during movement. It has been found, however, that this type of prior art saddle tree does not always have the required rigidity in all areas and, moreover, is not particularly suitable for an English type saddle.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a saddle tree that can flex and is also suitable for use in construction of an English type saddle in particular.
According to the present invention, there is provided a saddle tree, the saddle tree comprising a rigid pommel portion and a rigid cantle portion joined by at least one discrete flexible connector whereby the tree is able to flex centrally of the tree.
The saddle tree of the present invention is relatively simple to manufacture and can flex to conform to movement of the horse during riding and yet which has the required rigidity in the pommel and cantle areas. The risk of injury to the horse, and particularly to the horse's spine, is much reduced with a saddle tree according to the present invention.
Preferably, there are two connectors joining the pommel and cantle portions, a connector being positioned on each side of the tree.
At least one tie bar may be provided between the pommel and cantle portions.
The connector or connectors may be composed of polypropylene. Other suitable materials include nylon and carbon fibre. Carbon fibre reinforcing may be used.
Alternatively, the connector or connectors may be composed of separate components which are resiliently hinged together.
The pommel and cantle portions may be composed of wood.
In a preferred embodiment, the cantle portion has an inverted U-shape having depending legs, and the pommel portion has an inverted U-shape having depending legs which terminate in free ends and each of which has a projecting arm that faces backwards towards the cantle portion, there being a discrete flexible connector joining each of the depending legs of the cantle portion to a respective one of the projecting arms of the pommel portion.
The present invention also includes a saddle including a saddle tree as described above.
An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring to the drawings, a saddle tree 1 has a pommel portion 2 (situated in use towards the front of the horse) and a cantle portion 3 (situated in use towards the rear of the horse). The cantle portion 3 is wooden and is generally in the shape of an inverted U having depending legs 4. The pommel portion 2 is also made of wood and generally in the shape of an inverted U having depending legs 5 which terminate in free ends 6. Each of the legs 5 of the pommel portion 2 carries a projecting arm 7 which projects back toward the cantle portion 3.
Each of the legs 4 of the cantle portion 3 is joined to a respective one of the arms 7 of the pommel portion 2 by a flexible connector 8. The connectors 8 can be joined to the pommel portion 2 and cantle portion 3 by any suitable means such as by adhesive and/or bolts and/or rivets. The connectors 8 have a lazy S-shape in order to follow the contours of the horse's back. In one example, the connectors 8 are made from polypropylene. Other flexible materials such as nylon, other polymers, carbon fibre, leather, rubber, etc may be used. Such materials may include carbon fibre reinforcing, for example.
The saddle tree 1 also includes a pair of steel tie bars 9 which are connected between the pommel portion 2 and cantle portion 3 to maintain the integrity, resilience and stiffness of the saddle tree 1. Reinforcing steel plates 10,11 may be riveted to the pommel portion 2 and cantle portion 3. The reinforcing plates 10,11 may be used to secure the connectors 8 and the tie bars 9 to the pommel portion 2 and cantle portion 3.
Steel stirrup bars 12 are riveted to the pommel portion 2 on each side of the saddle tree 1 as is conventional.
As shown particularly in
During riding, the horse's spine flexes up and down in the central region of the horse's back. This is mirrored by the movement A of the rider 30 (shown in dashed lines). The movement of the horse and rider 30 up and down causes the connectors 8 to flex vertically up and down generally centrally of the tree 1 as indicated at B. During flexion of the connectors 8, the free ends 6 of the arms 5 of the pommel portion 2 move back and forth as indicated at C. Accordingly, the connectors 8 allow the saddle tree 1 to flex at its centre in a vertical direction, thereby allowing the saddle 20 as a whole to conform more closely to the shape of the horse and particularly the horse's back. The connectors 8 also cause the free ends 6 of the pommel portion 2 to move back and forth in a cyclic motion. This means that any pressure applied by the free ends 6 of the pommel portion 2 is relieved in a cyclical fashion. It is known that conventional saddles can apply high pressure to a horse's shoulders which can restrict blood flow through that region, especially if the saddle is a poor fit and is girthed up tight. Such pressure is relieved with the saddle tree 1 of the present invention by the cyclical motion of the free ends 6 of the pommel portion 2.
An embodiment of the present invention has been described with particular reference to the example illustrated. However, it will be appreciated that variations and modifications may be made to the example described within the scope of the present invention. For example, whilst the saddle tree 1 has been described primarily in the construction of an English type saddle, other saddles such as Western or racing saddles may be constructed using the saddle tree 1 of the present invention. The whole saddle tree 1 could be formed as a unitary piece of a suitable synthetic material which is rigid in the pommel and cantle portions and flexible in the connectors.
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Executed on | Assignor | Assignee | Conveyance | Frame | Reel | Doc |
Apr 28 2000 | Mondial Industries, Ltd. | (assignment on the face of the patent) | / | |||
Sep 26 2001 | SWAIN, BARRIE P | MONDIAL INDUSTRIES, LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012230 | /0747 | |
Nov 28 2001 | SWAIN, BARRIE P | MONDIAL INDUSTRIES, LTD | ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS | 012538 | /0362 |
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